| Conflict: | Battle of Epiphany |
| Date: | 5–6 or 12 January 1156 |
| Place: | south of Islay, Scotland |
| Result: | Partition of Kingdom of Mann and the Isles |
| Combatant1: | Forces of Somerled |
| Combatant2: | Forces of Godred Olafsson |
| Strength1: | 80 Galleys |
| Strength2: | unknown |
| Casualties1: | unknown |
| Casualties2: | unknown |
The Battle of Epiphany was a naval battle fought on 5–6 January or 12 January 1156, between the Norse Godred Olafsson (Godred the Black), King of the Isles and the Norse-Gaelic Somhairle MacGillebride (Somerled), King of Cinn Tìre (Kintyre), Argyll and Lorne, off the coast of Islay, Scotland.[1] [2] [3]
Olafr Godredsson, King of the Isles, was murdered on 29 June 1153 by his nephews and his son Godred became king in his place.[2] After ascending to the throne, Godred ruled with a heavy hand, which upset some of his chiefs.[1] Somerled who had married Raghnailt, the daughter of Olafr, was approached by a number of men headed by Thornfinn Ottarsson. Somerled agreed to their plan to overthrow Godred and replace him with Somerled's son Dubgall mac Somairle.[1] [2] He began preparations and began construction of 80 ships modelled on the Norse longship, known as birlinns and nyvaigs (the latter being the first ship to have a stern rudder directly in the rear of the vessel). Somerled having recognised the importance of dominating the sea, with which the Norse had successfully conquered the Isles.[4]
Thornfinn and Dubgall were sailing around the Isles seeking fealty for the latter as the next king. Godred became aware of their treachery and he sailed his fleet to attack.[5]
The fleets of Godred and Somerled met off Islay, to the north at Rubh' a' Mhaoil, on the night of the Epiphany on 5–6 January or 12 January 1156, and a fierce battle continued through into the next day. A stalemate occurred between the two fleets and Godred and Somerled initiated talks.[4] The contemporary evidence for the location of the battle is slight[6] and some authors have suggested the battle took place to the west of Islay, although Marsden (2008) favours the narrow Sound of Islay.[7]
After discussions and agreement, Godred ceded the isles to the south of Ardnamurchan (Mull, Jura and Islay) to Somerled, while keeping the Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Isle of Man.[4] The Chronicle of Mann and the Sudreys lamented that "thus was the Kingdom of the Isles ruined".[3]